UTICA, N.Y. – The 24th Annual Recognition Luncheon to honor Student Athletes of the Year took place at the Radisson Hotel in Utica, N.Y., today, as hosted by the Utica Kiwanis Club. The annual award recognizes student-athletes from area colleges for their outstanding performance as both students and athletes. This year 11 student-athletes from Herkimer, Mohawk Valley, Utica, SUNYIT, and Hamilton colleges were honored.
In addition to the student-athletes, longtime Utica College Athletic Director Jim "Doc" Spartano was honored. Spartano retired from his post at Utica College earlier this year after 38 years of service as coach and administrator to the Pioneer program. The group, which included athletic directors and administrators from the five area colleges, also discussed plans to rename the luncheon in Spartano's honor.
Regarding the students, master of ceremonies Don Dutcher (athletic director at Herkimer County Community College) said, "In the real world you have to be tough, not just physically but mentally too; in my opinion playing on or with a sports team does make you tough, and gives you knowledge and strength to use in your daily life…that's what I got out of athletics, and by sitting here today I'm sure each one of you can say something similar."
The following athletes received awards:
Utica College
Lauren Penc (Deerfield, N.Y.) – Women's Track & Field – Middle Distance - Physical Therapy
Penc, a native of Deerfield, NY, was a two-time Empire 8 All-Conference First Team selection and was named Utica College's representative for the Empire 8 Sportswoman of the year in 2012. She earned Empire 8 Conference Female Track Athlete of the Meet honors in 2010. She was also an All-American on the track & field team at Mohawk Valley Community College before transferring to Utica. Penc has also displayed excellence in the classroom as she is working towards her doctorate in the College's Physical Therapy program.
Seth Mitchell (Fonda, N.Y.) - Football - Kicker - Criminal Justice
Senior kicker Seth Mitchell, from Fonda, NY, was named to the 2011 ECAC North All Star Special teams unit as a punter. He was also a d3football.com All-East Region Third Team selection and an Empire 8 All-Conference First Team pick. He doubled as UC's place kicker and kickoff man to go along with his punting responsibilities. He averaged 40.8 yards per punt this past season. He ranks second on the College's all-time list for yards per punt. This season, Mitchell made eight field goals and 30 extra points. He finished the year ranked second on the team in scoring (54 points) and he placed 12 punts inside the twenty yard line. He also kicked a career-long 62 yard punt and averaged 54 yards per kickoff. He was also a 2012 Empire 8 President's List selection for his achievements in the classroom.
SUNYIT
Lyndsey Brognano (Rome, N.Y.) – Basketball/Softball – Guard/Shortstop
Brognano, a junior, made headlines at SUNYIT this year by being named both the NEAC Conference Women's Basketball Player of the Year and the NEAC North Division Softball Player of the Year (an award she co-received with Elly Disbrow of Keuka College). In softball Brognano has been named a 1st-Team All-Conference selection in each of her three seasons at SUNYIT, and is the current all-time career leader in batting average, slugging percentage, doubles, and runs scored for SUNYIT players with more than one season. In basketball Lyndsey led the conference in three-point shooting and is poised to become SUNYIT's all-time leader in points scored next season, after moving into second place this year with 1,245 career points.
Juleah Vedder (Dolgeville, N.Y.) – Volleyball/Softball – Outside Hitter/3B
A senior, Vedder leaves SUNYIT with at least 10 SUNYIT career records in both sports, including kills and digs in volleyball, and hits, home runs, RBI's, wins, innings pitched, and strikeouts in softball. Vedder was a 1st-Team All-Conference selection in each of her four seasons on the volleyball team, and was a two-time 1st-Team All-Conference selection in softball.
Patrick Baker (Ronkonkoma, N.Y.) – Baseball – Pitcher
A senior from Long Island, Baker leaves SUNYIT as the all-time leader in career innings pitched, wins, complete games, and strikeouts. He was a three-time NEAC All-Conference selection, earning 1st-Team All-Conference and Pitcher of the Year honors during his junior campaign, in which SUNYIT set a program record for wins. In addition, Baker served on the school's Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) for four years, working as the group's president during his senior year. Baker was also selected to attend the NCAA Career in Sports Forum, after which he will spend the summer working in the SUNYIT Information Technology department.
Herkimer County Community College
Hassan Evans (Brooklyn, N.Y.) – Baseball – Outfielder/Pitcher
A sophomore, Evans is currently enjoying looks from a number of major league scouts. The righty features a fastball in the upper nineties, and was named to the Mohawk Valley All-Conference Team this season. Evans hit over .380 this season, was second on the team in RBI's, and led the team in home runs.
Krista Oakes (Hogansburg, N.Y.) – Softball – Pitcher
Oakes, whose season is ongoing, has already thrown three perfect games and two additional no-hitters. She was recently named the Mohawk Valley Conference Player of the Year for softball as well as being a 1st-Team All-Conference selection. Oakes also received a Region III Female Athlete of the Week honor this season, and will most likely receive a few national awards at the culmination of the softball season.
Mohawk Valley Community College
Savannah Boucher (New Hartford, N.Y.) – Track/Cross Country – Liberal Arts & Sciences Major
A sophomore, Boucher last week become the first ever athlete to win Female Track Athlete of the Meet at Nationals two years in a row, leading her team to an NJCAA Championship in Outdoor Track while being crowned individual national champion in the steeple chase, 5000-meter, 10,000-meter, and anchoring the winning 400x800-meter relay team. She leaves MVCC as a multiple-time Cross Country and Track All-American, and is accepting an athletic scholarship to Mansfield College in the fall, all while carrying a 3.45 GPA.
David Gould (Frankfurt, N.Y.) – Soccer – Midfield – Biology Major
Led team to a 36-4 record in two years and back-to-back appearances in the regional final four; tied school record for assists in career, and was a 1st-Team All-Conference and 2nd Team All-Region selection. Gould was also an active leader, serving as a team co-captain, a member of the Phi Betta Kappa Honor Society, and a member of student congress. Next year he is planning on attending Sage College in Albany where he was awarded a merit scholarship.
Hamilton College
Maggie Rosenbaum (Alford, M.A.) – Swimming – BA/FL
In two years Rosenbaum, a sophomore, has won two national championships, both in the 100-meter backstroke. She is the first ever female swimmer to win a national title at Hamilton College, and holds school records in 9 different events. Out of the pool Rosenbaum has made the Dean's List twice, and was this year selected to the NESCAC Conference All-Academic Team.
Jon Leanos (Long Valley, N.J.) – Lacrosse - Attack
A four-year player, Leanos leaves Hamilton as a two-time captain and All-Conference selection in each of his four seasons. In 2009 he was the Liberty League Rookie of the Year, and this past season he was selected 1st-Team All-Conference
Special thanks to Gil Burgmaster at Utica College for contributing to this release.